Grain door



w. T. TYLER GRAIN DOOR Filed Mafch 5, 1921 s Sheets-Sheet 1 43 A, Adar/26y 3 Sheets- Sheet 2 w. T., TYLER GRAIN DOOR Filed March 5, 1921 Dec. 16, 1924.

W. T. TYLER GRAIN DOOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 5, 1921 8 fiwelzior ififlrkzm. 7179161 7 M flaring Patented Dec. 15, 1924.

WILLIAM '1. TYLER, OF CI-IEGAGQ, ILLINOIS.

GRAIN DOOR.

Application filed March 5, 1921.

To (1U whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. VILLIAM T. TYLER, a. citizen of the United States. residing at Chicago. in the county of Cook and State of Illinois; have invented new and useful linprovements in Grain Doors. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in freight cars and more particularly to a form of grain door to be used when the car is employed to transport grain. It is an object of this invention to provide a light, inexpensive and permanent grain door to be used in connection with double side door or so called automobile be): cars to make a grain tight closure for the opening normally closed by the smaller door section which is only uncovered when it is necessary to have an opening in the side of the car larger than the size of the standard door opening.

Heretofore when a box car was to be used for transporting grain a. temporary grain door was usually employed consisting of wooden planks on the inside of the ear resting one upon the other and nailed to the door frame. This expedient is unsatisfactory because there is us ally a leakage of grain through the cracks between the planks and between the bottom plank and car floor, due to the olting the load receives in travel and. therefore it will be readily seen that on increasing the size of the door opening and the length of the planks for a. temporary grain door, the greater will be the loss of grain in a double side door can It is customary in double side door cars to provide means for securing the smaller or supplemental door section in such a manner that the larger or main door section may be operated independently and in the manner as if the side door opening was of standard size. This invention contemplates the application of a permanent grain door section which, when the supplemental door section is in closed position will form a grain tight closure of the opening therebehind, and at the same time, provide means whereby the main'or 'standard'size door opening may be provided with a temporary grain doorof the type above described.

While the preferred form of this invention is illustrated upon the accompanying Serial No. 449,834.

sheets of drawing. yet it is to be understood that minor detail changes may be made therein without departing from the scope thereof.

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a portion of a double side door or automobi e freight car illustrating the supplemental door in open position and showing the improved grain door in closed position.

Fig. 2 is aview in section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, with parts broken awa v' and the supplemental door closed.

Fig. 3 is a view in section on the line 3- 3 of Fig. 2, with parts broken away.

Fig. at is a view in section on the line -l-l of Fig. 2, with parts broken away.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail View in side elevation of the exterior of the inner edge portion of the supplemental door in closed position, with parts broken away.

Fig. 6 is a view in end elevation and partly in section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail view in perspective of the bottom anchorage of the door post or side frame adjacent the supplemental door.

Fig. 8 is a similar view of the top anchor age for the same.

The embodiment of this invention is illustrated as applied to a box car having a standard side door 1 and a. supplemental door 2 of smaller size to provide an opening greater than the standard when required to load large articles such as automobiles. Whilethe doors are shown as being of the bottom supported type with sections on the top interlocking with av continuous guide, the manner the doors are supported is immaterial to this invention aslong as the. supplemental door is mounted on the exterior of the car side and is adapted to be held in closed position independently of the stand ard door.

In the form shown lock bolt is mounted through brackets 4t secured at the top and bottom on the interior of the inner edge of the supplemental door and. coacts with stops on the top and bottom of the door opening to secure the supplemental door in closed position and this particular construction forms no part of this particular invention.

The door post or side door frame on the side of the supplemental door is formed of two spaced apart members, the member 5 adjacent the exterior of the ear preferably being a wooden post rabbeted on the outside for the attachmentof the outside sheathing 6 of the car and reinforced by a metal plate 7 bent about it in the manner shown and with the inner member, formed preferably of a metal plate 8 bent in the form of a channel, as shown, with its interior flange embracing and attached to the inner wood lining of the car and both plates being flanged upon their adjacent sides. The members are anchored at the top and bottom to maintain their spaced apart relation, preferably by castings or plates 9 and 10 secured to the car body and having flanges 11 adapted to surround and secure the metal plates of both door post members with the outer portion of the metal reinforcing plate 7 of the outer member passing through an aperture 12 provided. therefor in the anchor flanges and secured exteriorly thereto, as shown in Figs. 3, 7 and 8 so that this reinforcing plate presents a continuous plane surface to the supplemental door.

A grain door is mounted to travel upon a track on the car floor and be received between the spaced apart members of the door post and enter between the outside sheathing and inner lining of the car when the grain door is open. The track is secured to the car floor in parallel relation to the supplemental door and extends from adjacent the inner edge of this door when in closed position a sufficient distance between the sheathing and lining for the travel of the grain door.

7 The grain door is preferably formed of two or more sheet metal panels secured together along their meeting edges with stif fening members in the form of angle irons 14 secured on the exterior side adjacent the top and bottom horizontal edges of the upper and lower panels respectively. The vertical edges of the door are provided with rigidifying members in the form of inturned flanges 15 and 16 which also perform other functions as later described. Each panel is preferably provided with a plurality of parallel corrugations 17 terminating within the margin of the panel to rigidity and produce greater strength of the metal used.

A plurality of rollers are mounted in brackets 18 secured to the exterior of the bottom portion of the grain door adapted to support the door with just sutficient amount of clearance to allow the door to travel over the track. The track 19 has a central longitudinal struck up portion 20 and the bottoms of the rollers are above the bottom. of the door so that the bottom of the door travels over the lower portion of the track and upon outward bodily movement of the door will engage the vertical shoulder formed by the struck up portion of the track, and thereby make a grain tight closure between the door and car floor.

The grain door is substantially of the same width as the supplemental door and extends from the car floor to a distance below the top of the car door frame, there being no necessity of the additional weight of carrying the metal door to the top of the frame as temporary wooden grain doors do not close the top of the door opening and grain is never loaded above a certain distance below the car roof. The vertical flange 15 on. the metal door within the car sheathing and lining is bent back, at an angle to the door body so that when the grain door is closed this inturned flange will engage the flange on the channel member 8 of the door post continuously throughout the height of the door and thereby form a grain tight joint between the door and end of the flange of the channel door post member. To further insure a grain tight joint, brackets 21 are secured to the outside of the door adja cent the top, middle and bottom of the enclosed vertical edge, each having an inclined surface extending outward from the door body which, as the door is closed, will engage the exterior member 7 of the door post and wedge the door body against the flange of the other member 8 of the door post when the door is in complete closed position. A nailing strip 22 is secured upon the door body against the inturned flange 16 along the other inner vertical edge preferably by bolts, which, when the door is in closed position, will afford a means for attaching a temporary wooden door, as indicated in dash lines on 2. Along this edgea channel iron 23 is secured to the exterior of the door body by one flange with its web lying in the same plane as the inturned flange of the door. The brackets 4t secured to the supplemental door at the top and bottom and adjacent its inner edge through which the locking bolt passes, are each provided with a hook like extension 24 adapted to engage the outer flange of the channel secured to the grain door and cause the grain door to travel to the closed position as the sup plemental door travels in that direction. The inclosed faces of these engaging members, when the supplemental door is in closed and locked position. maintain the inner vertical flange of the grain door in contact with the channeled door post member, and at the same time, maintains the other vertical edge of the door in fixed relation to the supplemental door.

It is seen that by this construction the supplemental 'door may be unlocked and moved from its closed to its open position independently of the grain door, both doors may be moved from the closed to the open position simultaneously, if desired, and the ll l grain door may be closed independently of the supplen'ienta'l door, but when both doors are in open position, the closing of the supplemental door will always cause the grain door to travel in unison therewith.

In traveling from closed to open position the grain door moves over the track on the car fioor and between the outside sheathing and inner lining. In the form shown the corrugations 17 are pressed from the inner side of the door body so that the ribs formed thereby will enter the space between the door body and outside sheathing when the door is opened, and to insure the door remaining in an upright position, guide strips 25 are secured to the interior of the outside sheathing which will enter between the outside ribs of the door body. The opening movement of the grain door will be limited by the brackets 4 on the interior of the supplemental door and the character of their connection through the channel 23 on the vertical edge of the door will maintain the body of the door in open position against the flange of the channeled door post member 8.

By this construction an extremely strong and durable permanent grain door is provided, as the door is made of metal and the corrugations give additional strength allowing of the use of light weight metal for this purpose. If desired, the lower panel may be made of thicker metal than the other to provide additional strength.

This construction provides a grain tight closure for the opening behind the supplemental door whenever the supplemental door is closed and from the manner of operation of the supplen'iental and grain doors no space is afforded where dirt or other foreign substances may gather which will block or interfere with the operation of the doors.

A wooden grain door, unless made of heavy material and reinforced. in many cases bulges in service causing the planks forming it to move out of alignment and form an opening between them through which the grain will sift, and, furthermore, this type of wooden door is often broken by the shifting of the load. In most cases where a temporary wooden grain door is used the planks are knocked out as the grain is unloaded, and are liable to be discarded or destroyed. A. light weight metal grain door will. also bulge in service and cause a leak of the grain about its edges.

The grain door constructed in accordance with this invention becomes a permanent part of the car and when it is necessary to open the supplemental door the grain 'door is received between the outer sheathing and lining of the car, and, therefore, the door is protected from damage or destruction when not in use and yet may be readily brought into operative position by the closin of the supplemental. door. The: corrugations allow of the use of much thinner metal than would ordinarily be required for this purpose so that the door may be much lighter and at the same time of a very strong and rigid construction. From the manner of mounting this door the Weight of the lading will more tightly bind the bottom of the door in its grain tight position and its two point contact with the interior member of the door post along its vertical edge, when the door is closed, insures a positive grain tightclosure under service conditions.

Claims.

1. In a double door or automobile box ca r, main and supplemental doors therefor, the door post adjacent the supplemental door (lOll'lpllSlDQ' spaced apart members, a grain door having rollers near the bottom edge thereof. a track upon the car floor over which the door rollers travel and permitting the grain door to be moved between said door post members, said track having a longitudinal struck up portion to form a grain tight joint between the grain door bottom and the car floor, means upon the grain door 'n'eventing its withdrawal from between the door post members comprising a vertical flange adapted to engage one of the spaced apart members and form a grain tight joint therewith, and means upon the supplemental door adapted to engage and close the grain door therewith.

2. In a double door or automobile box car, main and supplemental doors therefor, the door post adjacent the supplemental door comprising spaced apart members, a grain door having rollers near the bottom edge thereof, a track upon the car floor over which the door rollers travel and permitting the grain door to be moved between said door post members, said track having a longitudinal struck up portion to form a grain tight joint between the grain door bottom and the car floor. means upon the grain door preventing its withdrawal from between the door post members comprising a vertical flange adapted to engage one of the spaced apart members and form a grain tight joint therewith, and means upon the supplemental door adapted to engage and close the grain door therewith, and maintain the grain door stop flange in grain tight engagement when both doors are in closed position.

3. In a double door or automobile box car, main and supplemental doors therefor, the door post adjacent the supplemental door comprising spaced apart members, a grain door having rollers near the bottom edge thereof, a track upon the car floor over which the door rollers travel and permitting the grain door to be moved between said door post members, said track having a longitudinal struck up portion to lll) form a grain tight joint between the grain door bottom and the car floor, means upon the grain door preventing its withdrawal from between the door post members comprising a vertical. flange adapted to engage one of the spaced apart members and form a grain tight joint therewith, means upon the supplemental door adapted to engage and close the grain door therewith and n aintain the grain door step flange in grain tight engagement when both doors are in closed position, and means upon the grain door adapted to engage one door post memher in approaching the closed position and maintain the door in grain tight engagement with the other member when completely closed.

4. In a double sheathed box car having a double side door opening with door posts on each side thereof, main and supplemental doors therefor, the door post adjacent the supplemental door comprising spaced apart members, one of which presents a continuous flat surface towards the other, a grain door mounted to travel between said door post members, means adjacent each verti cal edge of the grain door to prevent its withdrawal from between the door post members, said grain door having a flat sur face adjacent these edges, one of said means comprising a stop along one vertical edge adapted to engage the end of the fiat surface of the door post member and form a grain tight joint, means upon the door adapted to engage one door post member and maintain the flat surface of the door against the fiat surface of the other door post memher for forming an additional grain tight joint when the grain door is in closed position, a shouldered track for the grain door to travel over and forming a grain tight joint between the bottom of the grain door and the shouldered portion of the track, means upon the supplemental door adapted to close the grain door therewith, and means upon the supplemental door adapted to hold both doors in closed position independently of the main door, and at the same time maintain the grain tight joint between the grain door, car floor, and door post.

5. In a double sheathed box car having a double side door opening with door posts on each side thereof, a main door of standard size, and a supplemental. door, both support ed to cover and uncover the said opening, the door post adjacent the supplemental door comprising spaced apart members with the outer sheathing secured to the exterior member and the inner lining secured to the interior member, both members in cluding metal plates bent to present parallel adjacent flanges and having vertical surfaces in the same plane facing the door opening, anchorages secured to the car frame engaging and maintaining the spaced apart relation of the metal door member plates, a track upon the car floor parallel to the supplemental door entering between the spaced-apart members and extending between thesheathing and lining, a corrugated metal grain door, the corrugations of which terminate within the margins of the door, rollers carried on the exterior of the grain door above the bottom edge thereof, said track having a longitudinal struck up portion over which the rollers are adapted to travel and arranged so that the bottom edge of the grain door and shoulder of the track will form a grain tight joint, a bent back flange upon one vertical edge of the grain door adapted to engage and form a grain tight joint with the edge of the inturned portion of the interior door post member thereof, a plurality of wedges along this vertical edge of the grain door adapted to engage the other door member and cause the body of the grain door to engage the interior door post member when the grain door is in closed position, a door look upon the supplemental door adapted to secure it in closed position independently of the main door, means near the inner edge of the supplemental door adjacent the main door for detachably engaging the grain door, said means comprising a bracket having an extension adapted to engage a channel secured along the adjacent vertical edge of the grain door, said extension having a V shaped depression adapted to engage the free flange of the channel on the grain door and maintain the grain door in fixed relation and with the other edge in grain tight contact with the door post when the supplemental door is in closed and locked position.

WILLIAM 'r. TYLER. 

